247-25-000078-TA Temporary Hardship Dwelling Text Amendment

Background and Project Purpose

This is a legislative text amendment to Deschutes County Code (DCCD), Title 18, County Zoning. The primary purpose of the amendment is to conform local requirements with state law and provide consistency for the review of hardship dwellings across multiple county zones. Notable changes include:

  • Reorganized content for readability;
  • Amended outdated references;
  • Clarified hardship dwelling can be used for the “aged” as well as the “infirmed”;
  • Clarified “existing building” definition for the purpose of the section;
  • Clarified hardship dwelling can be the only second dwelling on the property;
  • Amended renewal requirement from every one year to two years;
  • Listed the use in all permissible zones for readability.

Beginning in 1979, Deschutes County has allowed property owners to obtain a temporary use permit for a secondary dwelling on a rural property, to provide care for either the property owner or a relative of the property owner, with a medical condition. This would allow for the person with the medical condition to maintain independence and continue to live on a rural property while also receiving necessary medical attention. Recreational Vehicles (RVs) and manufactured homes are allowed as a hardship dwelling in all zones that allow for a single family dwelling, and existing buildings are eligible to be used as the hardship dwelling in farm and forest zones.

The purpose of this proposal is to amend the code for greater consistency with state rules and statutes and to establish a consistent review process for hardship dwelling applications across all County zones in which the use is permitted.

Note: OAR 660-004-040 restricts temporary hardship dwelling types in the MUA-10 and RR-10 zones to RVs and Manufactured Homes. The state does not allow the use of existing buildings in these zones. The proposed amendments will be updated to reflect this requirement. 

Proposal Status & Public Hearing Information

Planning Commission Meetings:

The Planning Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend approval of the proposed amendments to the Board of County Commissioners, with the revision to exclude the use of existing buildings as a hardship dwelling type in the RR-10 and MUA-10 zones consistent with OAR 660-004-040.

A second public hearing will take place before the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at their regularly scheduled meeting. The exact time will be posted the week before the hearing. Testimony can be provided:

  • Virtually via Zoom utilizing this link: bit.ly/3h3oqdD
  • Via telephone by dialing 253-215-8782, enter Webinar ID: 899-4635-9970 and Password: 013510.
  • In person in the Barnes and Sawyer Rooms of the Deschutes Service Center, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend. 

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Staff Contact

Nicole Mardell, Senior Planner
Nicole.Mardell@deschutes.org
(541) 317-3157

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